Friday’s Art Walk features third anniversary event

October 6, 2011

Art Walk has withstood the test of time and the economy. In October, the monthly art event will mark its third successful year as part of the revitalization of downtown Fort Myers.

The next monthly Art Walk will take place on Friday, Oct. 7, with local art galleries and art stops featuring new exhibits and shows. This regular cultural event draws between 1,500 and 2,500 people each month to the downtown River District.Then on Saturday, Oct. 8, the organizers of Art Walk will bring back its seasonal Saturday Art Fair.

A new twist this year is the art fair is now a juried event and will showcase individual artists at tables along the sidewalks of First Street.

The Saturday Art Fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend.The monthly Art Walk runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. The October Art Walk will include more than a dozen art galleries and art stops and will feature new art shows, live music, and the traditional after party.On Thursday, Oct. 6, the Art League of Fort Myers will host a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. at Harborside Event Center to showcase the annual Cele-BRA-tion exhibit.

Some highlights of the Friday, Oct. 7 Art Walk:

- Art of the Olympians: An Exhibition of 21 International Olympian Artists in the Olympian Art Gallery and in the Olympic Sport Museum the Table Tennis Showcase is still showing with the opportunity to play against the robot.

- Art League of Fort Myers: Opening reception for Color and Form exhibit.

Held the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m., Art Walk features local and national artwork in the downtown art galleries and several art stops in the Fort Myers River District. The evening culminates with an after party at 10 p.m. The October after party will be held at Spirits of Bacchus on Hendry Street.

Another highlight of the very popular evening is the weekly Friday Night Live free concert series, which takes place in the Patio de Leon. Screamin' & Cryin' will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

Always a collector's item, new Art Walk buttons will be available at galleries that night. Art Walk has its own T-shirt (in red or black). Shirts are available for a $12 donation at the IberiaBank gallery showcase during Art Walk.

A free shuttle service courtesy of Select Transportation Inc., with stops planned near the art venues, and parking at the Harborside Event Center will be available for Art Walk patrons. Shuttle stops include The Oasis Condominiums, Art of the Olympians, and the Patio de Leon entrance at First Street.A map of Art Walk, showing transportation and parking will be distributed by participating galleries. Art Walk is a rain or shine event. Art Walk was started by a group of art galleries and art enthusiasts and debuted in October of 2008. Art Walk is a River District Alliance event. For more information on Art Walk, participating galleries and links to gallery websites, visit www.fortmyersartwalk.com.